Chuck Berry, the singer, songwriter and guitar great who practically defined rock music with his hits “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Memphis,” “My Ding-a-Ling” and “Sweet Little Sixteen,” has died. He was 90.
The singer/songwriter, whose classic “Johnny B. Goode” was chosen by Carl Sagan to be included on the golden record of Earth Sounds and Music launched with Voyager in 1977, died Saturday afternoon, St. Charles County Police Department confirmed. The cause of death was not revealed.
During his 60-plus years in show business, Berry in 1986 became one of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He entered The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame in ’85 and that year also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Check out Billboard.com for an in-depth look at Berry’s career and influence on music.
Watch Bon Jovi’s Chuck Berry tribute of “Johnny B. Goode” at their concert at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday night March 18.
“The first time I ever sang in a talent competition, in the mid-’70s sometime, it was this song,” Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd.
During Simmons’ March 18th show in Cleveland, he and his band also performed “Johnny B. Goode” as a tribute to rock icon Chuck Berry.
Here’s an 80s Classic of Chuck Berry on The Tonight Show. Chuck Berry is the show’s only guest as he performs “Memphis Tennessee,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” and “Johnny B. Goode” in-between three chat segments with Johnny.